4 Countries That Keeps Their Ancestors Tradition Alive

Inscriptions on mountain walls and tribal traditions define our culture and our identity. They give us a perspective of our beginnings and it build us inside and out. Our heritage shapes our character, likes, dislikes and our food preference. Some cultures prefer eating raw food or even fermented food, it transcends into the countries modern cuisine. These heritages eventually become the country’s greatest treasure.

They say history is visible through your food culture, hence if you want to understand a foreign country always join in people and food. Sometimes you might even be invited to join an amazing dance and an after party with traditional wine.

There are many countries that uphold their ancestor’s traditions and if you’re looking for a culturally enriching adventure then this would be a great read for you.

1. Iceland – The Land of the Vikings.

Over the years, Iceland has been known for its gender equality, its scenic beauty and its wonderful traditions. Iceland or Is-land known to many Scandinavians and Central European community, is a land which offers wondrous opportunities and great living standards. Iceland is often associated with women rights and the land of the Vikings.

Iceland has always been associated with their brother countries such as Sweden and Norway as they share the same roots and heritage. The atmosphere and the love for great unique cuisine is something interesting in Iceland. However, Iceland is the one country which celebrates their ancestor’s tradition and names it as one of the most important public holidays.

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During the era of the Vikings, the common food would be the cold Icelandic shark meat. These sharks have a coat on the epidermal layer which protects them from the cold. However, this coat is a form of toxin which becomes a dangerous poison for the human body. Hence fermenting has been a common tradition to release these toxins which could result in fatality if eaten without caution.

However, if you’re in Sweden you might find a similar cuisine but it isn’t celebrated with a festival. In Iceland there’s a harvest feast where you tend to indulge in a platter of fermented shark’s meat, cow brain and ox eyeballs. It’s a feast where you enjoy the cuisine of your ancestors and waste nothing, it’s the way of the Vikings.

If you’re in Iceland be sure to take part in the amazing festivities and community gatherings.

2. Mongolia – The Land of Genghis Khan.

Mongolia is a land which is at the borders of China, they’re an exquisite country who treasures their nature and have a culture which is both welcoming and unique. They tend to celebrate their differences in tribes and their history. A nation which is known for its perseverance, it’s tenaciousness, it’s strategizing and its leadership. It’s the land of Genghis Khan.

For the people who aren’t familiar with Genghis Khan he may have been known as a cruel and a tenacious leader. Their culture is a mix of influences from the Chinese, Russians, Tibetans, and Buddhist which has incorporated in their nomadic culture. One of their most renowned traditions are their marriage traditions. A bond between a man and a woman is viewed as something sacred. Hence, their cuisine and their weddings are one to be remembered by.

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During the older times, the women used to exchange a fur coat, equivalent to the worth of the women. Hence the higher the quality the more the women are worth. Even though in this modern world this tradition has changed and they have moved on from past belief’s, they still have it as part of the ritual. Their marriages are filled with classic traditions, good food and a party to be remembered.

So if you happen to be in Mongolia, make sure to take the opportunity to be part of a traditional family and if you’re lucky you might be able to be part of a wedding.

3. Argentina – The Bridge of Tradition and The World.

I recall when my partner and his friends made a vacation to Argentina, I’ve never heard the end of the same story. However, they’ve claimed it to be one of the best countries in the world for its hospitality and it’s love for music and history. Argentina, is known for its huge influence in the Latin American world, for its culture, character and its beautiful history.

They became world famous after their findings of the very first Inca Tribe sacrifice in the Argentinian mountains. It’s believed that a child is sacrificed for the good of the community and becomes a holy savior. Although these practices are no longer practiced, plus the mere existence of the Inca tribe has been destroyed, Argentina still celebrates this part of their culture as their greatest treasure.

Furthermore, for those who are enthusiastic about wine and good meat then this is the place to be. It’s the place where you can learn about history and modern culture all with sharing a table with an Argentinian. You can go around drinking mate as well as embracing the beautiful nature, and great food.

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Hence if you’re planning to head to Argentina be sure to try that good old lama steak. I’m sure you wouldn’t regret it.

Although it’s not a traditional place for many travelers, it’s definitely a place worth visiting. Their traditional cuisine is horse meat; they prefer the traditional beef jerky in the form of horse jerky. Usually enjoying a great meal means sharing it with families and friends.

They’ve carried forward their ancestor’s practices in mercy killing of the livestock and having the head of the women prepare the dishes. The men share the head of any livestock, while the woman are forbidden to touch the head. Furthermore, the men are the first to begin the meal and the women tend to enjoy certain parts of animal organs which guarantee to keep their youth flourishing and which increase their fertility.

The country is divided between the modern society and the traditional families who work hard to preserve their culture. Every year before harvest they celebrate this culture with their traditional Eagle Trainers. These eagle trainers train the birds to become hunters and to catch preys, without vision. It’s amazing, despite many hurdles they’re still holding on to their custom and heritage as a part of their lives.

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Hence if you’re ever travelling to Kazakhstan, make sure to enjoy your time with the locals instead of in hotels. It will be an unforgettable adventure.

In a nutshell, it’s amazing to travel and discover different cultures and heritage, so I hope this article has been of great read for you.

1. J.K. Rowling

A few short years after her graduation from college, her worst nightmares were realized. In her words,

“I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears that my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.”

Coming out of this failure stronger and more determined was the key to her success.

2. Steve Jobs

The now revolutionary Applestarted off with two men in a garage. Years later we all know it as a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees.

Yet, almost unbelievably, Steve Jobs was fired from the very company he began.

The dismissal made him realize that his passion for his work exceeded the disappointment of failure. Further ventures such as NeXT and Pixar eventually led Jobs back to the CEO position at Apple. Jobs said in 2005:

“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”

Lost your job today? Keep kicking and you could be just like this guy!

3. Bill Gates

Bill Gates was a Harvard dropout. He co-owned a business called Traf-O-Data, which was a true failure.[2]

However, skill and a passion for computer programming turned this failure into the pioneer of famous software company Microsoft, and the then 31-year-old into the world’s youngest self-made billionaire.

In his own words:

“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”

This isn’t to say that dropping out of Harvard will make you into a billionaire, but maybe that shiny degree isn’t worth as much as the drive and passion to succeed.

4. Albert Einstein

The word ‘Einstein’ is associated with intelligence and synonymous with genius. Yet it is a famous fact that the pioneer of the theory of general relativity, Albert Einstein himself, could not speak fluently until the age of nine. His rebellious nature led to expulsion from school, and he was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School.

His earlier setbacks did not stop him from winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. After all, he believed that:

“Success is failure in progress.”

To this day, his research has influenced various aspects of life including culture, religion, art, and even late night TV.

Just because you haven’t achieved anything great yet, doesn’t mean you can’t be an Einstein yourself.

5. Abraham Lincoln

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Failing in business in 1831, suffering a nervous breakdown in 1836, defeated in his run for president in 1856, Abraham Lincoln was no stranger to rejection and failure. Rather than taking these signs as a motivation for surrender, he refused to stop trying his best.

In this great man’s words:

“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”

Lincoln was elected in 1861 as the 16th President of the United States of America.

The amount of rejection you receive is not a defining factor. Success is still within your reach.

6. Michael Jordan

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

This quote by retired basketball legend Michael Jordan in a Nike advertisement speaks for itself.

It would be an easy misconception that Jordan’s basketball skills revolve around natural talent. In fact, in his earlier years, basketball coaches had trouble looking past the fact that Jordan didn’t reach the minimum height. It was years of effort, practice, and failure that made the star we know today.

7. Steven Spielberg

Regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, Steven Spielberg is a familiar household name. It is surprising to realize therefore that the genius behind Jaws and E.T. had poor grades in high school, getting him rejected from the University of Southern California three times.

While he was in college, he caught the eye of executives at Universal, who signed him as a television director in 1969. This meant that he would not finish his college degree for another 33 years.

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Perseverance and acceptance of failure is the key to success, after all.

“Even though I get older, what I do never gets old, and that’s what I think keeps me hungry.”

Bad grades in high school aside, there is no questioning the genius involved.

To date, Spielberg has directed 51 films and has been awarded three Oscars.

8. Walt Disney

Mickey Mouse creator Walt Disney dropped out of school at a young age in a failed attempt at joining the army.[3] One of his earlier ventures, Laugh-o-Gram Studios, went bankrupt due to his lack of ability to run a successful business. He was once fired from a Missouri newspaper for “not being creative enough.”

Yet today, The genius behind Disney studios is responsible for generations of childhood memories and dreams. From Snow White to Frozen, Disney will continue to entertain the world for generations to come.

The logic behind this is simple:

“We don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

9. Vincent Van Gogh

During his lifetime, Vincent Van Gogh suffered mental illness, failed relationships, and committed suicide at the age of 37.

He only ever sold one painting in his life, pinning him a failure as an artist. However that did not put a damper on his enthusiasm and passion for art.

He would never know that years and years after his death he would become known as a key figure in the world of post-impressionism, and ultimately, one of the greatest artist that ever lived.

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He would never know that he became a hot topic in art classes and his image was going to be used in TV, books and other forms of popular culture.

In the words of this great, but tragic man:

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”

10. Stephen King

As a paranoid, troubled child, tormented by nightmares and raised in poverty, it is no surprise that Stephen King grew up to the title: “Master of Horror”.[4]

An addiction to drugs and alcohol were his mechanisms to cope with the unhappiness he felt with his life. The frustration he felt towards multiple rejections by publishers in combination with illicit substances caused him to mentally contemplate violence towards his own children.

These intense emotions were those that he focused onto his writing. And that’s why he said:

“We make up horros to help us cope with the real ones.”

Writing became his new coping mechanism, and this is how the master author we know today grew to success.

Fail more often in order to succeed

Like Albert Einstein said, failure really is just success in progress. If you’d rather not to fail, you will probably never succeed.

Success comes from moments of frustrations when you’ll be most uncomfortable with. But after you’ve gone through all those bitter times, you’ll become stronger and you’ll get closer to success.

Don’t be afraid to fail. In fact, start failing, and start failing often; that’s how you will succeed.